Some weeks, the hardest part of dinner is simply deciding what to make! So, I put together another delicious lineup to make things a little easier.
This week, we’re mixing cozy Greek classics with a few family favorites—from tender beef stifado and juicy chicken shawarma to my famous smash burgers. And, of course, we need something sweet, so I’m finishing the week with two classic Greek desserts.
These are the kinds of recipes I come back to again and again: comforting, full of flavor, and perfect for bringing everyone around the table.
Let’s get cooking!
Greek Beef Stifado
If you’re craving Greek comfort food, start here. Stifado is a classic Greek beef stew with tender pieces of beef and whole shallots slowly simmered in a rich tomato sauce flavored with cinnamon, cloves, oregano, and a touch of vinegar.
The beef becomes incredibly tender, the shallots turn soft and sweet, and that sauce is exactly what you want to soak up with plenty of crusty bread. You can also serve it over rice or mashed potatoes for a hearty family dinner.
🍋 Dimitra’s Tip: Don’t rush this one. Giving the beef time to slowly simmer is what makes it so tender and flavorful.
Easy Chicken Shawarma
This is one of those recipes that proves you don’t need takeout to get incredible shawarma at home!
Boneless chicken thighs are marinated with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, sumac, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, and a few more warm spices before being grilled or broiled until juicy and flavorful.
Serve the chicken in warm pita with salad and sauce, or turn it into a shawarma bowl with greens and all of your favorite toppings.
🍋 Dimitra’s Tip: Chicken thighs are my favorite for shawarma because they stay so much juicier than chicken breast.
My famous Shawarma White Sauce
You cannot make my chicken shawarma without the sauce!
This creamy white garlic sauce is ridiculously simple and makes the whole meal. Yogurt, mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, and garlic come together to make a cool, tangy, garlicky sauce that pairs perfectly with all of those warm shawarma spices.
Make extra because you’re going to want to drizzle it over everything.
🍋 Dimitra’s Tip: Make the sauce ahead and keep it chilled in the refrigerator. The flavors get even better as they sit.
My Viral Smash Burgers
If you’ve made my smash burgers, then you already know why these are a favorite!
The patties are thin, juicy, and beautifully caramelized, then layered with cheddar cheese and piled onto buttery toasted brioche buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and my creamy homemade burger sauce.
They’re simple, incredibly flavorful, and so much better than restaurant burgers.
🍋 Dimitra’s Tip: My trick is to smash the patties between pieces of parchment paper before they hit the pan. It makes them easy to transfer to the hot skillet or griddle and keeps the whole process much less messy.
Classic Greek Spanakopita
You can’t have a Greek recipe roundup without spanakopita!
My classic Greek spinach pie comes straight from my Greek mamma, and it’s one of those recipes I get requests for over and over again. Layers of flaky phyllo surround a creamy spinach and feta filling loaded with fresh dill and scallions.
Serve it with a big salad and tzatziki for a beautiful vegetarian dinner. It also freezes perfectly, so this is a great recipe to make ahead.
🍋 Dimitra’s Tip: Make an extra spanakopita and freeze it. Future you will be very happy when dinner is already waiting in the freezer!
Classic Greek Gemista
Gemista is one of those traditional Greek dishes that just feels like home.
Tomatoes and bell peppers are filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, rice, tomato, garlic, and herbs, then baked alongside potato wedges until everything is tender and beautifully roasted.
It’s basically an entire meal in one pan—vegetables, protein, rice, and potatoes—and somehow it tastes even better the next day.
🍋 Dimitra’s Tip: Don’t overcook the rice when making the filling. It will continue cooking inside the vegetables as the gemista bake.
Something Sweet…
No weekly menu is complete without dessert! This week I’m keeping things very Greek with two buttery favorites: classic baklava and my kourabiedes cookie sticks.
Classic Greek Baklava
The king of all Greek desserts!
My classic baklava is made with crisp, buttery layers of phyllo, walnuts and toasted almonds seasoned with cinnamon and cloves, then soaked in a sweet Greek honey syrup.
And I have a little trick that makes homemade baklava much easier than you might think. It’s golden, crisp, nutty, syrupy, and one of those desserts that always looks impressive on the table.
🍯 Dimitra’s Tip: Pour the cooled honey syrup over the baklava as soon as it comes out of the oven, then give it plenty of time to sit and absorb all of that delicious syrup before serving.
Greek Kourabiedes Cookie Sticks
All the buttery goodness of traditional Greek kourabiedes in a fun cookie-stick shape!
These Greek butter cookie sticks are perfect with coffee and just as beautiful on a dessert platter. They’re a fun twist on one of my favorite traditional Greek cookies and an easy way to give a classic recipe a fresh new look.
Make a batch for dessert, serve them with Greek coffee, or tuck a few away for later—if they last that long!
🍋 Dimitra’s Tip: These are perfect for entertaining because the stick shape makes them so easy to arrange on a platter and serve alongside coffee.
A Delicious Week Made Easy
There you have it—five delicious meal ideas, plus two Greek desserts to make the week a little sweeter.
Make the cozy beef stifado when you have time to let something slowly simmer, save the chicken shawarma and smash burgers for nights when you want something fun and flavorful, and add spanakopita or gemista when you’re craving the Greek classics.
And definitely don’t forget dessert!
I hope this gives you a little inspiration when you’re wondering what to cook this week. If you make any of these recipes, leave me a comment and let me know which one was your favorite.
Happy cooking!
❤️ Dimitra
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these recipes can I make ahead?
Several of them! Beef stifado and gemista are especially delicious the next day. Spanakopita is also wonderful for meal prep because it freezes beautifully, and the shawarma sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
What should I serve with chicken shawarma?
Turn it into a complete meal with warm pita, chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, greens, and plenty of my creamy shawarma white sauce. You can also serve the chicken over rice or make a big shawarma salad.
Can spanakopita be served as a main dish?
Absolutely! This is my entrée-style spanakopita, and it makes a wonderful vegetarian main course. Serve it with a Greek salad and tzatziki for an easy meal.
What should I serve with Greek beef stifado?
Rice, mashed potatoes, or plenty of crusty bread are all delicious because you’ll want something to soak up that rich tomato sauce.
Which Greek dessert should I make?
If you’re craving something syrupy, crispy, and nutty, make the baklava. If you want something buttery to serve with coffee, make the kourabiedes cookie sticks. Or do what I would do and make both!
More Greek & Mediterranean Recipes
Looking for even more dinner inspiration? Browse through my Greek and Mediterranean recipes for everything from quick weeknight dinners and easy chicken recipes to traditional Greek comfort foods, appetizers, and desserts.
There’s always something delicious to make.
Kali Orexi!
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